Delosperma plant named ‘DDLRE03-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant named ‘DDLRE03-0’ is disclosed, characterized by large, brick-red flowers with yellow and white centers. Plants have a trailing habit with a mounded center, and are tolerant to cold. The new variety is a Delosperma, normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Delosperma cooperi.

Variety denomination: ‘DDLRE03-0’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Delosperma cultivar is a product of open pollination by the inventor, Steve Jones, at a commercial nursery in NSW, Australia. The open pollination was made in October 2016.

Various unnamed, unpatented proprietary Delosperma varieties were planted in open-pollination crossing blocks and the resulting seed bulk collected. Parent varieties are unidentified. The new variety was selected in October 2017 by the inventor in a group of seedlings at the same nursery in Cobbitty, NSW, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DDLRE03-0’ by terminal vegetative cuttings was first performed at a greenhouse in Cobbitty, NSW, Australia in October 2017, and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DDLRE03-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DDLRE03-0’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DDLRE03-0’ as a new and distinct Delosperma cultivar:

-   -   1. Brick red flowers with a yellow and white center.     -   2. Low, mounded habit.     -   3. Cold tolerance to USDA Zone 5.     -   4. Large flowers.     -   5. Flowering throughout plant, not just on tips.     -   6. Drought tolerance.

PARENT COMPARISON

The seed parents are not identifiable.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DDLRE03-0’ are comparable to the variety Delosperma ‘WOWDAY2’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,645. The two Delosperma varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, the new variety ‘DDLRE03-0’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has better cold tolerance than this         comparator.     -   2. The new variety flowers more in Summer than this comparator.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DDLRE03-0’ are also comparable to the variety Delosperma ‘WOWDRY1’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,157. The two Delosperma varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however, the new variety ‘DDLRE03-0’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety has better cold tolerance than this         comparator.     -   2. The new variety flowers more in Summer than this comparator.     -   3. Flowers of the new variety are brick red with a yellow and         white center, flowers of this comparator are pink with a yellow         and white center.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DDLRE03-0’ grown in a nursery in the ground. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 8 months from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of typical blooms of ‘DDLRE03-0’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DDLRE03-0’ plants grown outdoors from Winter to Spring in moderate climate in a greenhouse, in Santa Paula, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 16° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 9° C. to 16° C. during the night. General light conditions are high light levels 60,000 to 90,000 Lux Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Delosperma cooperi ‘DDLRE03-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Terminal vegetative cuttings. -   Root description: Thin, fibrous, freely branching. Near RHS     Greyed-Yellow 161D in color.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 10 weeks. -   Container size of the plant described: 5 inch. -   Growth habit: Trailing plant with a mounded center. Tender annual. -   Height: Approximately 9 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 34 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Very freely branching. -   Approximate quantity of lateral branches: Approximately 16 to 24     primary lateral branches, subsequently dividing into numerous     secondary and tertiary lateral branches. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 8 to 14 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 4 mm. -   Shape of lateral branches: Round. -   Substance of lateral branches: Succulent. -   Texture of lateral branches: Moderately glossy, moderately dense     coverage of short glandular hairs. Density increases towards     terminal end. Hairs about 1 mm in diameter and height. Colored near     RHS White 155A. -   Lateral branch strength: Weak and moderately flexible. -   Lateral branch color: Lower surfaces and around nodes colored near     RHS Yellow-Green 144C. Upper surfaces near Yellow-Green 144C     moderately flushed Greyed-Red 179B. -   Internode length: Average range 2.5 to 3.7 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—2 to 8 pairs, depending upon length of branch.         -   Shape of blade.—Ligulate, triangular in cross-section.         -   Aspect.—Reflexed downward, single center wedged indentation             along length of approximately 90% of blade.         -   Average length.—Average range 3.5 to 5.0 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 4 to 5 mm.         -   Average depth.—4 mm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:             Near RHS Green 137B, speckled 138C.         -   Venation.—Indistinguishable from foliage blade.         -   Petiole.—Not present.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Long lasting flowering period. From March             through December in Santa Paula, Calif.         -   In commercial production, flowering begins from a rooted             cutting.—Approximately 6 to 8 weeks. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type.—Single rotate terminally occurring flowers. Usually 2             single flowers per node. -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape.—Ovate.         -   Bud length.—Approximately 10 mm.         -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 7 mm.         -   Bud color.—Near RHS Red 45A.         -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open             approximately 2 days from the bud showing color stage. -   Individual flower:     -   -   Type of individual flowers.—Simple, rotate.         -   Shape.—Radial.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—2 per node, 8 to 24             flowers and buds per lateral branch on a plant of this age             in a 5 inch pot.         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Average range 3 to 3.5 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Approximately 1.3 to 1.7 cm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 8 to 10 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately strong musty scent. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity.—Average range 30 to 35.         -   Length of petal.—Average range 1.2 to 1.7 cm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Tapered.         -   Shape of petal.—Strap-like.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—Radial, forming 2 whorls around stamens.         -   Petal appearance.—Shiny, iridescent upper surface. Lower             surface moderately shiny.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, glabrous upper and lower surfaces.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Apical 80% near RHS             Red 45A, with a sheen near Red 44B. Lower 20% near Yellow             6A. Upper surface at maturity: Apical 80% near RHS Red 46B.             Apex flushed 46A. Lower 20% near Yellow 9C. Upper surface at             fading: Apical 80% near RHS Red 53B, lower 20% near             Yellow-Orange 13C. Under surface at first opening: Upper 80%             near RHS Red 46B. Lower 20% near Yellow 9C. Under surface at             maturity: Near RHS Red-Purple 61A, base near Orange-Red 34D.             Under surface at fading: Near RHS Red-Purple 59B, base near             Yellow-Orange 18A. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity.—Average range 30 to 40.         -   Length.—Approximately 4 to 7 mm.         -   Width.—Approximately 1.0 to 1.5 mm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Tapered.         -   Shape.—Irregular strap-like.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Arrangement.—Radially around stamens.         -   Petal appearance.—Shiny, iridescent upper surface. Lower             surface moderately shiny.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, glabrous upper and lower surfaces.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: RHS Yellow 5A, apex             Red 46B. Upper surface at maturity: RHS Yellow 7D, flushed             Red 46B. Upper surface at fading: RHS Yellow 10B, flushed             Red 46B. Under surface at first opening: RHS Yellow 5B, apex             Red 46B. Under surface at maturity: RHS Yellow 7D, flushed             Red 46B. Under surface at fading: RHS Yellow 5B, apex Red             46B. -   Calyx: Rotate, 6 mm in depth, 1.9 in diameter (with sepals fully     expanded). -   Sepal:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Sepal arrangement.—5 sepals in a single whorl.         -   Sepal length.—Average range 4 to 7 mm.         -   Sepal width.—Average range 2 to 3 mm.         -   Sepal shape.—Deltate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal appearance.—Matte, upper and lower surfaces.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, upper and lower surfaces.         -   Color.—Upper: Near RHS Green 137A. Lower: Near RHS Green             137B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average range 5 to 10 mm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 3 mm.         -   Aspect.—Slightly curved and undulating.         -   Strength.—Weak and flexible.         -   Texture.—Covered in very short glandular hairs.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Number of pistils per flower: 5.     -   -   Pistil length.—Approximately 2 mm. Highly reduced, style and             stigma indistinguishable. All structures colored near RHS             Yellow-Green 144C.         -   Stamens quantity.—Average 40.         -   Stamen length.—3 to 4 mm.         -   Anther shape.—Elliptic.         -   Anther size.—0.5 mm.         -   Anther color.—Near RHS Yellow 2A.         -   Pollen color.—Near RHS Yellow 7B.         -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Delosperma cooperi is recognized to be generally     not susceptible to diseases and pests. The new cultivar shows     neither resistance nor susceptibility to diseases and pests which     might be found on Delosperma. Especially in conditions of too much     soil moisture, crown rot might occur, most likely caused by     Phytophthora. Potential pests include the Aphis genus and the family     Pseudococcidae (mealybug). -   Environmental tolerance: Typically USDA Zones 5 through 9. Plants     are also tolerant minor drought. -   Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant named ‘DDLRE03-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 